Machine for the automatic closed ring jointing of pliable sheets



Oct. 2, 1956 Filed April 13, 1953 P. MOLLA MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC CLOSED RING JOINTING OF PLIABLE SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ($1 M/l/EA/TOR PIETRO MOLLA P. MOLLA MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC CLOSED RING JOINTING OF PLIABLEI SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIME/V 1 CL A J PIETROM L M b Oct. 2, 1956 Filed April 13, 1955 Oct. 2; 1956 LLA EATIC CLOSED ABLE SHEETS P M0 MACHINE THE A RING JO NG OF Filed April 15, .1953 e Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR PIETRO MoLLA A ENT Oct. 2, 1956 p MOLLA MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC CLOSED RING JOINTING OF PLIABLE SHEETS e Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 15, 1955 EEEEEEC INVENTOB Oct. 2, 1956 P. MOLLA MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC CLOSED RING JOINTING OF PLIABLEZ SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 13, 1953 MIVE/VTOR PIETRO MOLLA Oct. 2, 1956 P. MOLLA 2,764,919

MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC CLOSED RING JOINTING OF PLIABLE SHEETS Filed April 15, 1953 e Sheets-Sheet 6 I 2 75 V l INVENTOR PIETRO MO LA 7& fl A ENT parts Him MACHINEFOR THE AUTOMATIC CLOSED RING JOINTING vOF PLIABLESI'EEETS Pietro Molla, Magenta, Italy, assignor to S. A. F. F. A.- SqpcA. :Fabb'riche Fiammiferi ed Affini, Milan, :Italy Application Apt-i113, 1953, Serial No. 348,484

Claims priority, application Italy October 4, 1952 11 Claims. (CI. 93-77) overlapped gummed paper joint has the disadvantage of the weaknessof the gummed paper, which in some cases is not easy to apply on materials which do notfhave smooth surfaces, such as the corrugated or double side corrugated paper. I 7

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved automatic machines which produce closed ring type tubes or containers from sheets of corrugated or double side corrugated paper, smooth cardba rd,, th in sheets of wood or cellulose base material, by the application of a natural or synthetic. adhesive on the .joined edges.

More particularly, the machine according to the claimed invention comprises a device for loading or feeding the sheetmaterialto be Worked, a device which effects the application of the adhesive ,on the edges of the sheets, a sheet folding device, a device for pressing the edges of the sheets when they have received the adhesive and an off-loading device for the finished product.

The product produced by these new-and improved machines is a tube whose edges are butt jointed along a line parallel to its longitudinal axis and has'the following advantages:

The line of the joint is very resistant to strain, especially if a synthetic adhesive of the correct. type is used.

Any surface type material may be us e d and 'g'lued provided such material can be bent aridisbf suificient thickness. V

Uniformity of tube diameterwith absence pfjointing rib which appears when an overlap joint is made. 'Iliis latter advantage is specially important ,When thetubes are made of a very elastic material such as double side corrugated paper. ,This doublesided corrugated jpaper forms the subject matter of Italian Patent No. '471 ,.1 65 in *the name of Villoresi, whichwa's ifi1ed Qn"Jul yj9, 19, 50, and is 'used for the protection of "fragile cylindrical States Patent 'bodi'essuch as "bottles, tumblers, lamp bulbs and other similar glass Objects, V v z V In one embodiment of the present inventionjthe automatic tube forming machine comprises the following 1. 'A vertical-loading hopper with adjustable sides so 32. Acontinuous feed chain; type conveyor 'on which are mounted small plates, the distances between which tub tthrdu h Q.

- -1=2 and- 12' fOrmiifg part af ine-hopper? gether tth'e edg'es which have received the adhesive. ;An electrically heated pressu're bar is provided. ,for exerting a pressure on the seal from above the joint linenoffltlie 6,. ApiflPidbffi-Iqading device placed at the .end of the fedchziihcjdniiyor ejects the finished tubes from the ,rnachil'lerb throwing them into a collector bin. This v,e emplifying way and ,not in a limiting sense with :reference to .theflfollowing, embodiments illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic illustration, partially shown in section, of an embodiment of the machine'in an elevational view, showing -the ma in partsvabove mentioned.

Fig. 2, is, a plan view of the .,rn-achine vas shown iii-Big. 1 in which thepressure bar and therelativesuppor'ts are shown in dotted lines so as to, show theguidesmoreclear- 1y which complete the ring closure of thetubes.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view, inperspective of theformed platform placed at the outlet of the sheets from I the qpper- Fig. 4 is a schematic view in perspective of an adhesive pply un j v,

5 shows asection of the machine through the line,AA( o f Fig. 2

Fig. 6 shows a. section .of the machine through the line, B, B,' of Fig -l.

Fig. 7 shows in plan view the two continuous conveyor chains ofa modified form of theembqdimentshown in ,Ei'gs. l, 2 and ,6. r 1 v Fig. 8.sl1ows ia sectionthroughtthe.1ine- C+C offig. 7 t v v ,9 shQWSi-n elevation and partlysection theahot form the entire pressure bar -,cornplex with its (supports .tand s aring has tbeentomitted.

Fig. 11 shows a seet-ion ot aepressure 1bar;snpport l i e aci it e ,i I

Ihtou'ghoii this de cript on .refenin fli1twi l ied '9 the use of the particular, double; side; t conrugated ,paper whichis h i u jefctma er-0t :theabo ementiqwi Ra e-c .Ihesheetsptdoubl e de r m a s arr tane usl flat' the l to 1 conveyor chain'}. Q565 ts ali' iiv' sheets, thehop'p'er '1"is"fitt'ed with g whichare provided adjustable angle supp, a "ets Guides as provide adjustment as to length and width. The width of plying means comprisingtwo units the hopper is adjusted by fixing brackets 12, 12' by screws 14 and 14' arranged in slots 13, 13' formed in guides 11, 11'.

The feed of the sheets throughout the whole cycle of operations is effected by the chain conveyor 2, made-up of links 15, on each of which it is possible to screw a plate 16 of a thickness suitable for the thickness of the double side corrugated paper used. By varying the distance of the plates 16 according to the length of the sheets, one obtains, with the movement of the chain conveyor 2, a feed having a uniform spacing of sheets. The paper sheets before leaving the hopper 1 through the opening 17 pass across a forming plate 18 (Fig. 3) which flattens the sheets and lightly presses the edges which receive the adhesive in such a way as to smooth out any small variations in the width of the sheets. The forming plate 18 is interchangeable so that the machine may be used for various sizes of sheets being worked.

The conveyor chain 2 engaging sprocket wheels 19 and 2G is driven by gear 20' and transmission chain 21. Gear 20' and chain 21 are directly coupled to a reduction motor unit.

The adhesive applying unit 3 includes two symmetrical apparatuses placed one on each side of the sheet as it arrives on the conveyor chain 2. Each apparatus (see Fig. 4) comprises an adhesive oath 22 or 22', into which dips a vertical revolving disc 23 or 23'. Discs 23, 23 carry away on their edges a small amount of adhesive and deposits a thin layer on the outside edges of the horizontal revolving discs 24 and 24'. Discs 24, 24' in turn apply the adhesive to the edges of the sheets with which they come into contact.

For simplicity the operation on only one side of the conveyor will be described.

The revolving vertical disc 23 is driven through a set of cylindrical gears 25, 26, 27, 28, shaft 29, sprocket 30, and the transmission chain 31 taking their motion from the sprocket 13 of the conveyor chain 2. The horizontal revolving disc 24 is driven through the shaft 32, the

conical couple 33, the shaft 34 and the cylindrical gear 35 from the gear 26 already mentioned. Each adhesive applying apparatus is filed to a base plate 36, which is able to slide within the guides 37 and 37. Guides 37, 31 may be fixed in position by the screws 39 and 39,s0 as to provide an adjustment of the distances of the two adhesive applying units according to the widths of the paper sheets. Gear 28 is sliding on its own shaft 29 and has to be keyed into the position taken by the adhesive applying units.

The sheet, after passing between the adhesive applying discs 24 and 24 receives a slight bending of the lateral edges inside the guides 5 and 5, and round the parallel bars 44 and 44'. Bars 44, 44' are supported from backlash by the arms and 45' and are adjustable by means of the slots 46 and 46' so that they can close around the core leaving-a ring type or annular space 4 arranged horizontally on the machine along the center line of the sheet and, under which the sheet itself runs.

The core 4 which is'interchangeable according to the tube being made, is fixed at one end by the screws 40 and 40' of the support portion 41 (Figs. 1 and 2) and is free throughout all its length, which extends to the extreme end of the machine at the off loading end. The free part of the core 4 (Fig. 5) rests on the plates 16 which are fixed to the conveyor chain 2. Internally the core 4 is fitted with an electrical heating resistance 42 for drying the adhesive line on the internal portion of the tube. The folding of the edges of the sheet starts with the counteraction of the feed of the sheets against the guides 5 and 5' (see Figs. 1, 2 and 5 whose entry end with inclined plane and specially shaped faces inside cause the folding of the edges of the sheet against the core 4. The bars 44 and 44' serve to force the edges of the sheet to follow a predetermined course. I

by means of the slots 43 and 43' and lock screws 38 and 38', thereby providing adjustment for the varying sheet sizes and to enable the guides to converge slightly towards the outlet thus rendering the bending of the edges of the sheets more gradual.

Upon reaching the downstream end of guides 5 and 5', the double sided corrugated sheet with its edges partially bent to tube form and with the edges of the sheets glued but not joined, is received in the guides 6 and 6. Due to the shape of the internal faces of the guides 6, 6 being semi-circular and due to the pressing action of the sheets of the pressure bar 7, the bending action is completed so as to make the two glued edges of the sheet to come into contact. The guides 6 and 6 are interchangeable and the distances between them can be varied by means of the slots 47 and 47' and locking screws 48 and 48 thus allowing the production of a range of tube sizes as desired. So as to facilitate the entry under the pressure bar 7 of the sheets which are partially bent, especially when one is working on larger sizes whose glued edges might be too high, in the head of the pressure bar 7 is fitted an entry plate 49 which helps to complete the closure of the tube form itself. The pressure bar 7 (Fig. 6) formed by a rectangular section element 7 and by an element of channel section 50 with a sheet of insulator material in between 51, has a heater resistance 52 arranged inside it. This resistance 52, together with the resistance 42 of the core 4, serves to produce the necessary heat for the drying of the adhesive. The length of the guides 6 and 6 and the length of the pressure bar 7 is such as to allow the complete drying of the adhesive used which, as explained, can either be natural or synthetic. The pressure bar 7 is fixed to the bar carrier 53 by through bolts 54 and is carried by two elevation screws 55 and 55 (Fig. l) by means of two bolted flanges 56 and 56. The elevation screws 55 and 55 are carried on two supports 57 and 57' and are driven by a helical gear 58 (Fig. 6), which meshes on an endless thread 59 keyed to the shaft 60 which in turn is operated by a handwheel 61. The shaft 60 extends from the support 57 to the support 57 so as to give simultaneous action on both eleva tion screws 55 and 55.

Having finished the hot pressure cycle after passing under the pressure bar 7 the tubes, which are evenly distanced apart, continue towards the off-loading point of the machine. The tubes are still on the core 4 and are pushed by the plates 16 of the conveyor chain 2. So as to avoid plate 16 damaging the tube end when the chain starts to pass under the bed 9 as it follows the curve of the sprocket 20, the machine is fitted with a knurled surface roller 8 which has a surface speed greater than that of the tubes motion. Roller 8 is placed at a convenient distance from the end of the travel of the chain conveyor 2 and is provided to move the tube forward quickly from the plate 16 before conveyor 2 starts to pass round the sprocket 20. Roller 8 throws the tube olf the bed into a collector bin. The ejection wheel 8 (see Fig. l) is driven through cylindrical gearing 62 and 63, from the cylindrical gear 64 which is keyed onto the shaft 65 of the sprocket 20. Between the ejection wheel 8 and the end of the conveyor 2 is placed a normal counter 66 which registers the number of tubes produced by the machine from a given time. The tube being pushed in the last section of the conveyor chain hits a lever 67 which operates the counter device 66. Lever 67 has time to return to the rest position before the next tube arrives.

A modified form of the machine according to the embodiment above described arises from the possibility of making movable the two fixed guides 6 and 6 so as to give maximum movement and feed to double corrugated sheets which happen to be very thin or of tubes which are so large that they offer large surfaces for frictional elfect, or tubes made from materials which offer little resistance to the pressing etfect of the plates 16 which push the tubes on the conveyor chain 2. In Figs. 7 and 8 the guides 6 and 6' are replaced with a pair of endless chains 68 and 68', on whose links are fitted formed blocks 69 and 69'. These blocks are held against the bent edges of the sheet to maintain the tube closed during the not pressure operation of the heated pressure bar 7. Because of the flexibility of the chains 68 and v 68', they are made to slide within guides 71 and 71 which are fixed to the bed and are adjustable by means of the slots 72 and 72 and lock screws 73 and 73' to provide a means for lining up of the formed blocks 69 and 69. The speed and direction 'of movement of the chains 63 and 63' are identical to the direction and speed of the conveyor chain 2. On the curved face of the blocks 69 and 69 it is possible to screw plates and 70' (Fig. 8) which, similarly to the plates 16 on the conveyor chain 2, have the function of pushing the tubes on both sides, and like those, can be adjustably spaced in order to accommodate various tube lengths.

The chains 68 and 68 (Fig. 7) are meshed on pairs of sprockets 74 and 74 which are keyed to the shafts 75 and 75' carried by the supports 76 and 76'. One of the sprockets 74 and one of the sprockets 74', (Fig. 8) are driven through the respective shafts 75 and 75' on which are keyec the conical gears 77 and 77, by the shaft 78. Conical gears 79 and 79 are keyed to shaft 78 and are coupled with the conical gears 77 and 77' and the sprocket 8i). Sprocket 80 is actuated by the main transmission.

The adjustment of the distance between the chains 68 and 68 is done by means of slots 80 and 81' in the base of the supports 76 and 76 and by lock screws 82 and 82 for fixing to the bed 9.

Another modified form tending further to facilitate the feed of the tubes when of material not adapted to the pushing action of the plates 17, 70 and 70' and which also eliminates friction against the pressure bar 7 and above all provides a means of automatic cleaning of the adhesive incrustations on the contact faces at the line of the tube joint comprises a continuous steel strip 83 (Figs. 9, l0 and 11) which turns around the pressure bar 7 and bar carrier 53 assembly so that it comes into contact with the tubes. The strip steel can be easily cleaned of adhesive deposits by means of a scraper 84 mounted on the arms 85; and 85 or with some other similar means such as a sponge wiper or other suitable device.

in carrying out this modified form of the invention the pressure bar '7 which was described as being suspended by the flange 56 fixed on the upper part of the bar carrier block 53 as shown in Fig. 6, is supported by means of bracket 86 which is secured horizontally to the flange 56 and laterally to the bar carrier block as is shown in Fig. 11, with a consequent back placing of the bar.

holder arm supports 57 and 57' on the bed 9 (Fig. 9).

The steel strip 83 (Fig. 10) is carried on two pulleys 87 and 87' which are mounted respectively on the shafts 8S and 83, which in their turn are mounted on supports 89 and 89'. To the latter are fixed the elevation screws 96 and 9% (Fig. 9) on which are screwed the cylindrical nuts 91 and 91' which rest on the supports 92 and 92'. By using the nuts 91 and 91 it is possible to adjust the height of the strip 83 against the work level. The supports 92 and 92 (Fig. 10) are fixed to the bed by means of fixing screws 93 and 93' and by slots 94 and 94' which allow the adjustment for tension on the strip 83.

The steel strip 83 is driven by the pulley 87' on whose shaft is keyed a sprocket 95 which in turn is driven by the chain 96 (Fig. 9). Chain 96 sliding on the guide gear 97 and on the tensioner 98, is actuated by the gear 99. Gear 99 is keyed on a shaft 100 which carries the cylindrical gear 101. Gear 101 is actuated by cylindrical gear 64 which is shown as that driving the knurled roller 3 which effects the ejection of the tubes.

The transmission chain 96, so as to be able to adapt itself to the adjustments in height of the steel strip 83,

6 has been fitted with a tensioner device made up of a lever 102 pivoted on the support 163 and carrying on one end of the arm, the tensioner 98, while the-other end of the arm is fixed to the return spring 104 which is anchored to the bed 9.

The provision of the steel strip 83, obviously eliminates the need for the entry plate 49 applied to the head of the pressure bar 7 (Fig. l).

I claim:

1. A machine for forming tubes from sheets of pliable material comprising means for advancing spaced sheets of said material, means for applying an adhesive to two substantially parallel edges of each of said sheets of material, means for bending said sheets of material into tubular forms and disposing said substantially parallel edges of each of said tubular forms in abutting relationship to form tubes having butt seams, and means for applying heat and pressure to the inner and outer surfaces of each seam of each tube to dry the adhesive.

2. A machine for forming tubes from sheets of pliable material comprising a conveyor means for advancing spaced sheets of said material through the machine, means for applying a liquid adhesive to two substantially parallel edges of each of said sheets of material, means for bending each of said sheets of material into tubular forms comprising a core arranged above said sheets of material and arcuate guiding means arranged around said core, said guiding means presenting concave surfaces toward said core, said conveyor means moving said sheets of material within said guiding means and said concave surfaces of said guiding means forming said sheets of material to dispose said substantiallyparallel edges of each of said sheets of material in abutting relationship to form tubes having butt seams, and means arranged adjacent said seams of each of said tubes for forcing said seams of said tubes against said core.

3. A machine for forming tubes from sheets of pliable material comprising a hopper for stacking a plurality of fiat sheets of pliable material, a conveyor comprising.

above said sheets of material during part or" theiractua- 7 tion through said machine and arcuate guiding means arranged around said core, said guiding means presenting concave surfaces toward said core, said conveyor moving said spaced sheets of material within said guiding means and said concave surfaces of said guiding means forming said sheets of material to dispose said opposite edges of each of said sheets of material in abutting relationship to form tubes having butt seams, and sealing means arranged adjacent the seams of said tubes for forcing said seams of said tubes against said core to dry the adhesive.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in further combination with an outfeed roller for rapidly ejecting the finished tubes from said conveyor to a retainer bin.

5. A machine for forming tubes from sheets of pliable material comprising a hopper for stacking a plurality of flat sheets of pliable material, an endless chain conveyor comprising spaced plates secured to the links of said chain for extracting one sheet at a time from said hopper and pushing it through said machine, means for actuating said conveyor, means comprising a plurality of discs in frictional engagement with said material for applying a liquid adhesive to two opposite edges of each of said sheets of material, means for bending each of said sheets of material into tubular forms comprising a heated core arranged above said sheets of material during part of their actuation through said machine and arcuate guiding means arranged around said core, said guiding means presenting concave surfaces toward said core, said conveyor moving said spaced sheets of material within said guiding t m when asset sv ta s a s u e forming said sheets of material to dispose said opposite edges'of each of tsaidsh'eets of material in abutting relatio nship'to form tubes having butt seamsfand sealing means comprising a" heated bar arranged adjaeent the seams of said tubes as said tubes are actuated through said machine for actuating the seams of said tubesagainst said core to dry the adhesive.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in further combination with horizontally spaced conveyor means p ositioned to engage the sides of tlietubuhrform ed sheets of material tor the propulsion thereofithrough said machine.

7.' A machine for forniing tu'bes from sheets of pliable material comprising ahopper having plurality of Walls spaced a predetermined distan e apart for stacking e plurality of flat sheets of pliable material, a conveyor comprising'spaced plates for 'eirtra'ct'ing' one sheet at a time from said hopperan d pushing it"throu gh said machine, means for"'actuating 'said'conveyor; rneans'for applying a liquid adhesive'to'two opposite edges of each of said sheets of material, means extending along themagitudinal axis of saidnia'ohine for bending" each of said sheets of materiali'nto tubular forms comprising a first pair of areuate guiding means having concave surfa es of apredeterniined eurvature facing each other, a second pair of arcuate guidingmeanshaving concave .surfac'es of a second predetermined curvature facing e aoh other and a heated core arranged vvithin said guiding means along the longitudinal axis of said machine," said core bein'g" arranged above said sheets of material as' said material moves through saidmac hine, ,said' conveyor moving'said spaced sheets of material \ifithin' said guiding means and said concave surfaces of said'first' giiiding means formirig said material into semi-circular'io'rms and said 'concave surfaces of said second guiding means formingsaid semi-circular forms to dispose 'sai'd opposite edg 'e'sof said forms in abutting relationship to form ttibesjhaving butt seams, andsealingmeans arranged adjacent theseamsof said tubes for' fo'rcirig the's'eamsof said tubes against said core to dry the a dhesive.

SL The combination set forth in claim 7 in further cornbinationvvith means for movingsaid spaced vvaflls' a s eeond predetermined distance apart to 'aec'dr'nrnodate another size sheet of material.

9. A' ma'chine for forming tubes from sheetsof plia'ble material comprising a'llQplierfofstalcliing" a plurality of flat sheets of pliable materialfa I'conve'yor comprising spaced plates for extraet'ing one sheet at a time from saidhopper, means for 'actliafingfls'aid' conveyor longitudirially through said machine; me as comprising" a d etaehahle forming plat arrangedbelow said hoppe'rihiit above said conveyor, forjrfemovin the wrinkles from said .sheets of material to 1 iform' tnjeir'wi'dms"; m aiis comprising a hi-nay of discs arranged an npnbjsite' edges o f said sheets of rnat'eiia'll iihich' are artangd'along' the longitudinal axis of said maehine' dee ening-"a liquid adhesive to said edges of each" ofsaidsheets of material, m a e t n n th w vns mdinal x sf i chine for bending each of said sheets of material into tubular forms comprising afirst pair of arcuate guiding meanshaving eoneave'surfaces of a predetei'mined curvature facing 'ea'eh other; a second pair of arcuate guiding means having 'concave surfaces of a second predetermined curvaturdfacin'g each other, a heated core arranged Within said guidin'g'niearis above said sheets of'material as said'mat'erial moves longitudinally through said machine, and guiding bars arranged"within said guiding means to cooperate with said concave surfaces of said first and seeond guiding meansto form said sheets of material, said conveyor moving said spaced sheets of material Within said guiding means and said concave surfaces of said first guiding means forming said material'into semi-circular forms on said'concave surfaces of seeond gnidi'ng means forming said semi-circular forms to dispose said opposite edges of said forms in abutting"relationshipto form tubes having butt seams, and sealingrn'eansarranged adjacent the seams of said tubes'torforeingtl-ie seams of said tubes against said core to dry the adhesive.

10. A rna chine for'forming tubes from sheets of pliablematerial comprising ahopper for stacking a plural'i't'yof flat sheets of pliable material, a conveyor comprising "spaced plates for extracting one sheet at a time fro'nfls'aidhoppei and pushing it longitudinally through said machine, meansfor actuating said conveyor, means for applying'a liquid adhesive to two opposite edges of each of saidsh'eetsidf material, means for bending each oisaid sheetso'f material into tubular forms comprising a heated core arranged above said sheets of material and ar'cnfateguidirig means arranged around said core, said'gu ding n'ieatis"presenting concave surfaces toward said eo'fe,"'saidcohveyor moving said spaced sheets of material within said guiding means and said concave surfaces of said'giiiding m'e'a'nsi'orrning said sheets of materialfto dispose said opposite edges of each of said shets"of material abutting relationship to form tubes having butt seams, sealing means comprising a heated bar arranged adjacent the seams of said tubes as said tubes" afe 'a'ctuatedfjthrough' said machine for forcing the sea-ins of s'aidtubesag'ainst said core to dry the adhesive, and means for retrieving the excessive adhesive from said mss-campn-smg a revolving metallic strip provided to pass-Between said pressure bar and said tubes.

ll. The combination set forth in claim 10 in further combination" itha'scraping means for cleaning the ad hesive fronrs'aid'strip;

ReferencesCite'din the file of this patent UNITED" STATES PATENTS 

